Mikel, Victor Moses, Oshoala, Rohr top list of Nigeria Pitch Awards’ nominees
SUPER Eagles stars, John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses; Super Falcons’ player, Asisat Oshoala and Nigeria’s senior national team manager, Gernot Rohr were among the top nominees for 2017/2018 Nigeria Pitch Awards unveiled at the Lagos Travel Inn, Ikeja, yesterday.
The award, which is organised by Matchmaker Consult International, rewards, encourages and recognises Nigeria’s male and female footballers, as well as stakeholders in football who have distinguished themselves in the sport.
According to the organisers of the event, the award ceremony to declare the eventual winners of each category of the award would be announced later.
Others on the list of nominees in various categories are Super Eagles’ goaltenders, Carl Ikeme, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye. They are vying for Goalkeeper of the Year award. The Defender of the Year contestants are Leon Balogun, William Troost-ekong and Shehu Abdulahi, while in contention for the Team of the Year are the Super Eagles, Plateau United and MFM football club of Lagos.
The Midfielder of the Year cat- egory nominees are John Mikel Obi, Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Moses, while the Striker of the Year contenders are Victor Moses, Anthony Okpotu and Odion Ighalo.
Contestants for the Queen of the Pitch award are Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade and Reuben Charity, while ABRAHAM OBOMEYOMA OGBODO the King of the Pitch award contenders are Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi and Mikel Obi.
For the Coach of the Year award, the nominees are Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM, Super Eagles’ Gernot Rohr and Kennedy Boboye of Plateau United. Journalists and other stakeholders in football were also nominated for awards in different categories.
Speaking at the event, President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips said the organisers had over the years put in place a credible and transparent reward system for Nigerian footballers and stakeholders, who have continued to display exceptional talents, skills, passion and commitment to improve the standard of football in the country.